Tag Archives: decluttering

Continuing to minimalise

Posted in minimalism, Uncategorized by

We had someone come get the oak table from down at our corner so that was really cool. My husband was not about to lug it back in the van and home again. Ok, he would have but certainly with some grumbling. yeah, it’s gone.  The space out in barn where it lived and held junk on it is open now and looks good.  My goal is to have the shelves in the barn only have what we think is essential and practical.

I took the van to the thrift stores and dropped off 6 boxes of stuff to Goodwill including my almost new bread maker. Then over the Humane society thrift store and dropped a box of dishes that are part of a set but these were chipped slightly so I took them out. And then, to the bookstore and dropped a box of books off and two very old 1855 books. I checked on eBay and they were listed for @ 25 each. Nothing selling so I really don’t want musty old books I’ll certainly never read. Then a small handful of my vintage postcards I keep dwindling down.

Then after I came home and researched starting a web page for the FOAL, I went out to the barn and reorganized some and pull another 1/2 bin of magazines to go the thrift store. I’m actually going to go back our and see if I can get one bin emptied.  I also will bring in my kid’s Waldorf lesson books and they can go thru and keep some.  So it’s getting there.  I think now there’s 4 Christmas bins, 5 magazine bins, 1 of our memory things, and 1 bin of the kids LOTR cards. Gee, they must have every single one.  But that’s theirs, not mine. So I feel great progress and if the time comes to move, it’ll be whittled down to essentials.

I did find in an art portfolio my cutting mat I was looking for but its warped and not really usable so I’ll have to donate that and get a new one and a cutter.  It makes cutting edges quite easy and clean lines. I don’t need it yet but eventually.

Tomorrow is a gym day.  Wednesday I’m going to Costco.

Tonight is cheese ravioli with a garlic parmesan sauce, salad and maybe a piece of fish for my daughter when she gets home from work at 7pm.

KonMari, an update.

Posted in books, simplicity, Uncategorized by

I recently watched a youtube of Marie Kondo ,the originator of the Kon Mari method of tidying. I was impressed. I’m not a novice at decluttering or minimalizing. I’ve been at it for at least 4 years now. But i was struck by something she said and decided to revisit her method. I’ve read both her books and did  enjoy them but didnt do the take everything out thing. Since I’ve decluttered so much in the past I decided to try this. I started with my clothes. Now, I have a very small wardrobe. I wear basically the same thing everyday. i have black, white, navy, and jeans. I have less than 40 items  and 3 pairs of shoes. So, I still took everything out. Touched each thing and was able to get rid of at least half of what I had. I was impressed. I had some jeans I was hanging on to in case I lost some weight. Out they went. If I lose weight I will get something then.  I dont count in my workout sweats or jackets.  I have 2 of each. So I was impressed.

The next day I did books. Now I also have very few books anymore. We have @ 4 dozen Easton press. These are collector items and they are for both my daughter and my son. They are very beautiful and a good investment. I didnt take these off the shelf and touch because I knew all were staying. But I did take all the rest which wasn’t that much but still I managed to fill a grocery bag. Most were Todd Borg’s Tahoe mystery series and those will get donated to the Truckee Library.  Plus 2 new books I got from blogging for books. I could still have gotten rid of some old family books that are pretty old ,1850’s  They didnt really spark joy but I was undecided so i kept them for now. Again, I was quite surprised with the holding each item and feeling for the spark of joy.

Next the area to do is papers. Again, I have declutteded so much I had a small bin to go thru and then 1/2 drawer in a file cabinet. I still threw out ( we will burn them) 2 huge bags. I was impressed. Old mortgage papers , bills etc. I put back less than 1/2 of what I had.

Now I’m going thru the Komono stuff. That’s lots of areas such as bathroom, pantry. Our bathroom is very minimalistic so not much but I did throw out a few things and cleaned the cabinet drawers.  I also took all the food out of our open shelving (restaurant stainless steel shelves) and went thru everything threw out a bunch and put a bunch in the food bank bag and then reorganized it. It looks better. I also keep canned goods in our bedroom closet and reorganized that. Not anything really to throw out per se.

So, here’s the thing,  I think if you’re just starting out with decluttering, I would recommend you start with the 4 bag system. Toss, Keep, donate, and not sure. i think this would get you thru the first layer of decluttering and would be a good start and would show immediate improvement in your home. Clear off counters and surfaces too. Then after a few sessions of this start Kon Mari. I think,my opinion only, Kon Mari could be overwhelming at first. But then again millions have done it and like it. Whether or not they finished ,who knows.

Next up is more kitchen cabinets but I’ll do one side then the other since it is hard on my back to take everything out from all cabinets at once. Even with what I’ve done ,my back has been sore.

I’ll get some pictures on when I upload them from my phone.

Decluttering emails!

Posted in Multiple myeloma, Uncategorized by

I spent 3-4 hours yesterday trashing emails so as to free up storage on my mac. Well , I wasn’t decluttering big batches but clicking on them one at a time hence the 3 hours. My husband told me how to use shift and then bunch them together. Worked brilliant. But my email still said I have 7,000 + emails even though I deleted them; Well I guess they’re there somewhere, so I googled what to do and brilliant took only 2 hours today to finish it. so the trick was to do the shift thingy and then hold the option key while clicking o the trash button. I’m not sure yet how to check the storage thing but I will figure it out. Mac users, any ideas???

So, off today to Sacramento. My shot went well and then it was up to Costco. It’s always so busy in there. But I got what I needed( and more). I haven’t been making bread lately as it’s been hot so, I bought some nice Alverado sprouted bread and bagels for the boy who thinks bagels are the only food in the world. Then I came  home sorted stuff. I bought some beautiful Wild salmon so I cut that up in 6 pieces.I’d like to get one more pack as its seasonal and won’t be there after a short while. Also, baking supplies. There’s still a few more items I need I didn’t get as the price tag was high enough.

So, now it’s dex afternoon. I’ll do a few tidying chores as it looks like nobody did anything while I was gone.  But that’s it, plus just lay down. I don’t plan dinner tonight, just leftovers or YOYO.

imageIt was the first week of July we were in Seatle last year to got to the Seattle Cancer Alliance Center. Hard to believe a year has gone by. I’m grateful every day to be here and that my Velcade treatments have put me in CR.

Well, off to lay down.

Decluttering continues

Posted in minimalism, Uncategorized by

IMG_0023IMG_0015I’ve been on a new decluttering kick. Going thru things again and letting go of more layers. It’s amazing once you aren’t sentimental about something how easy it is to let go. Plus, I’ve been asking myself ‘if I was moving would I take it’?  So I got rid of 4 more cookbooks since I actually have never made anything out of them, just like the pictures. So if I was moving ,no I wouldn’t take them…Decluttering even more our laundry area. This is a small room built off the back of our house. maybe a little hokey and if we ever were going to sell I’m not sure how it would be viewed. But it is a nice space for our washer and dryer  and small chest freezer which, has been one of best purchases ever. plus, there’s shelves for storage.  I’ve managed to reduce the Waldorf stuff to 2 small bins and will go thru them even more. I don’t need to keep those cute books for my adult children. I took out the old rug and am going to get something else at Home Depot but for now ,I have the extra bathroom mat I’ll put down. Also , hanging on 2 pegs are our emergency packs with items that would be useful if there was ever an evacuation like a fire.

This is a set of some English china. I haven’t used them in a few years yet they were hanging out with my other white dishes. So, off they go to the pet thrift store.

I also went thru another box of photos and threw out a bag of duplicates, fuzzy pictures and ones that just weren’t interesting. In total it was probably 1/2 a garbage bags worth between  2 boxes. Also, I’m consolidating our tools we keep in the house to just one drawer in my ‘new office space’. I need a few things more but I repurposed a plastic bin to hold the screw drivers. Still need something for batteries. It seemed I was all over yesterday but I felt productive.

Today I’m off to Sacramento for my next shot. I’m not shopping today as pay day isn’t till tomorrow.  So it  should be a quick trip down and back. We still haven’t heard anything on our Harp refi, so I emailed the guy and asked what’s up ? it doesn’t take 4 weeks to get a subordination on our second.  If I don’t hear today, I’ll email again. I may check with our credit union as to whether they do refi’s with the Harp program. Since its a loan that doesn’t require income doc, appraisal or other things not sure if they do.

Dinner tonight is leftover taco meat and beans together, so Chili!! with tortillas.

 

Thursday stuff

Posted in Uncategorized by

Well, it’s off to Sacramento for my last Velcade shot of cycle 5. I’m really glad I’m approaching the end of this cycle and the last one #6.  Overall, this is a relatively easy chemotherapy but there’s still side effects. My eyes are still developing some styes and continue to water some. Plus, now the neuropathy has snuck in.  Most of it is manageable but still it takes its toll. Plus today I get to take Dex. Such fun!!

On another note, I’m ready with a small load for the Goodwill express drop off. I rather not give stuff to Goodwill as it’s CEO gets a huge salary, but I have to admit they have their donation centers down to a science. the guy comes out with a cart ,loads it and then whisks it away. Very neat and tidy.  I did manage to get rid of some Life magazine ads I had in slips, but still, I need to whittle down the Life magazines to maybe 4 bins.  Some of my oldest Life magazines are from the ’30’s and I like looking at them but maybe I’ll try to sell those as they are probably more collectable. I also just tried to sell mad Men seasons 1-5 and no luck so I’ll give those to the Humane Society bookstore to sell.

The budget is just ok. Not much new there except not enough money to fund my envelopes till next payday.  I’m hoping with some of the refiguring of budget stuff, next month will be better. We will have some reductions in expenses. One, my son will go back to working at Grocery Outlet and so he will have his own spending money so, I’m planning on not giving him the money we were, so that’s a big savings.  He is going to take a summer school class and will have an internship(unpaid) for now, so depending on his money we may chip in for gas. So with June starting hopefully we will see most of the big bills for the year, (taxes, property taxes, auto insurance etc.) done till November. My big goal is to save and put money back in our EF which has taken a pretty big hit.  If B gets a bonus( which he thinks he is), that’s number one priority.

Our garden is giving us lovely lettuces and herbs,(cilantro, thyme, parsley, oregano, dill) so we are having fresh salads.  We have tomatoes in plus all the usual stuff. I haven’t really been food shopping so today after my shot I’m going to go to Winco or Walmart for pasta, and a few pickle type things that I can’t stand buying in our regular store ( Bel Air) for those of you on the west coast. I tried to get some whole wheat pasta at our store here in town. First , IMG_0089they didn’t have the Barilla I was looking for and the  ones they did have were almost $2.00 I can go to Winco and get Barilla for .99  So, it’s worth stocking up. the same with things like salsa and pickle type things (relish).  I also need some bulk popcorn, polenta etc. I’m going to buy the expensive milk in the glass jar to help cut down on garbage stuff. I’m on a new kick of trying not to buy stuff with a lot of packaging.  At Costco, it’s hard to avoid since everything has giant plastic wrap stuff, but my regular shopping I should be able to at least make a dent in some things.

 

Where I have my morning coffee!!!

‘The More 0f Less’

Posted in books, minimalism, reading, simplicity, Uncategorized by

‘The More  of Less’ by Joshua Becker

This book by Joshua Becker was just released. He is one of the leading advocates of minimalism and living a simple life. He starts off describing how his journey into minimalism started with emptying his garage. He states up front that he uses Christian and Bible referances.  I wasn’t too sure about this to start  since I’m a non-believer as such, but I didn’t find them over powering to the message of simplifying your life and minimizing. I like he was honest about this and very open to all faiths or non-faith.

The book is well written and I liked his breakdown of how to start decluttering, and then going into a lot of the psychology behind letting go of things and the benefits from living with less.

He gives lots of practical advice.

I think this is an excellent book on minimalism for both beginners and those more advanced in their journey to own less.41pkwq-8CJL._SX351_BO1,204,203,200_

 

This book was provided by ‘bloggingforbooks’ in return for my opinion.!!!

 

If a tree falls…

Posted in Gardening, minimalism, reading, Uncategorized by

I cannot believe it. We’re on the patio getting ready to grill our beautiful organic steak I purchased from organic meats. And all of a sudden we hear a huge crack and see our neighbours’ tree fall hitting two other trees. There was NO WIND or anything. Boom! it just went. I totally freaked. I can not believe this could happen when there was not even a breeze. Fortunately, the tree fell away from our neighbor’s house. He is quite elderly, lives alone and has poor hearing. But he managed to come outside and check it out. We were already over there looking. This was not even a dead tree. Still green.  Now I’m seriously thinking we’d better start budgeting for the next set of trees we want out. There’s about 3 that still are leaning in so….. Too crazy.

Yesterday was still a dex day but I went to town and then to the Koffee Klatch to catch up with everyone. It’s nice to get to socialize a little. I’m quite an introvert so, normally I don’t do things like this, but I’ve come to enjoy this group.

I also started a new level of minimalizing. I’m reading ‘The More with Less’ by Joshua Becker which I will review at a later time. But he does point out some things that spurred me into getting rid of old earrings and little stuff I never use. More stuff to goodwill. Plus getting rid of the whole set of dishes has opened shelves for pantry stuff to be more organized. I also got rid of some very old books(1940’s) that had been bought at a library sale and obviously no has cracked open.  Plato? well, maybe in college, but certainly not now.  So good. I can really see the results. I’m going to write a whole blog or series on this process soon.

Today, my daughter and I are going to a new nursery to get tomato plants and some other things. Should be fun. We’re eating lovely lettuce and peas from the garden right now.

Simplifying , decluttering, rain and more!.

Posted in Uncategorized by

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

– William Morris

I’ve been back in the simplifying mode. I have a huge load to go to the little thrift store in town, but it’s been raining so much ,I haven’t been able to drop off. I read a blog about decluttering and I like his approach of everything needs a home. Pretty much the same as everything in its place and a place for everything. But , I like this little adaptation, that everything has a home or out it goes. I’m looking around and see a few more things to go.

With Christmas decorations up , it’s more visually cluttered, but I love our little bird tree, our snoopy tree, our big tree, and the ugly ornament tree. Yes, that’s a lot but we do enjoy them. My daughter and I did get rid of quite a few ornaments and quite a few of the hallmark boxes for ornaments that were not in the best shape. It takes up less space to wrap them in bubble wrap. I’m hoping to get everything in one plastic bin. That down from 4. It might end up I big bin and a small bin. I have 2 fake trees to give away too. So all in all lots of stuff going. My daughter does a great job purging, my son, not so much, his room is still a disaster zone. But I close the door, it is his space, so I respect that. Oh, I do go in and empty the burgeoning garbage pail.

RAIN,OMG, it was torrential. Our our got almost 4 inches of rain and there was flooding all over. Our driveway looked like a river. I get a little concerned with the ground being so saturated as that’s a way trees fall. But we need the rain in California ,so….

Saw the foot doctor too. It’s spurs on top of my foot. Surgery or ? She was little odd, not very revealing. She said I had a small mass under my ball of my foot from the bone trying to protect itself. She tried to drain it but when nothing happened, she said ,I guess it’s bursitis thing.( not sure if that’s what she said). Anyway I got a cortisone shot, and she wasn’t sure if that would help. She also said my feet don’t land right and I could benefit from orthopedic things to put in shoes, to the tune of $450. I said , let’s do it. She thought the reason the spurs happened is because of this. I’m going to try that, and give it 6 months. Then I’ll reconsider the bone shaving surgery ( yuck!).

I’m off to the library this morning.

maybe I’ll do a little more holiday decorating , if there’s any left to do.

Also, someone suggested to put the friends for sale books in alphabetical order. Good idea.

Not sure what’s on the dinner menu, but probably pasta with spinach as have a lot to use.

 

Sleepless in Seattle , no Meadow Vista!

Posted in Uncategorized by

ImageArghhh, no sleep last night. It’s a dex night but this is ridiculous. I went to bed at 10 ,slept till the cat woke me up at 1:44, then never went back to sleep. Got up at4:55 , had coffee, then we did our walk. Now, I’m ready for a nap. But I have already done some stuff. Listed some vintage lunch pails. And I’m going to list a few other things today. I have a few Flylady things to do but that’s it. Tonight is egg salad sandwiches, so the eggs are hardboiled already. I need to get my LLS forms ready for my insurance co pay. It’s going to be less since we’ve had a reduction in how much we pay. I am very grateful to the LLS for their support. 

I might go out to the barn and declutter some more but will see if I’m still awake. Plus we are having very hot weather, 100 degrees so not to conducive to being out side.

Dex Monday!

Posted in Uncategorized by

Well, the 20 mg is noticeable . I’ll go back to 16 mg next week and compare. But my face is pretty red today, and on 16 mg not so noticeable. Plus, I’m zooming around doing things. So far, making potato salad eith potatoes from our garden, making the last of the tomatoes I froze last year into sauce, swish and swiped the bathroom, took sheets off the bed… And going to make some whole wheat bread. Umm, oh, walked my 2 miles. So this is definetley more than the 16 mg. I guess ,I’m curious , is it going to effect my m protein. Who knows. I’m still in a very good remission on rev/dex, and there’s been no increase other than minor. 

Later, I’m dropping off thrift store stuff. Not a lot but every little thing that goes feels good. 

Almost finished the one wall of the barn that’s the Legos, Star Wars, Star Trek , memento boxes and Christmas and camping. So it looks better and I got rid of 2 empty bins that were old. So all in all good!